Crucible-furnace.



F. M. ILER. GRUOIBLE FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

THE NORRIS PETERS ca. FHOTD-LII'HO., WASHING rON, D c.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. M. ILER. ORUCIBLE FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

Patented M212, 1915.

unpn P TFRS 60.. PHOTOVLITHOU WASHING ION. D. C.

P. M. ILER. GEUOIBLB FURNACE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1912.

3 SHBETSSHBBT 3.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

a Fig. 1. Fig. 4- is a horizontal sectional View FRANKLI M. ILER, or DENVER, COLORADO.

o-nUoIBLE-rUnNAcE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915..

Application filed May 20, 1912. Serial No. 698,559.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, FRANKLIN M. ILER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, county of Denver, State of Colo- Y rado, have invented certain new and useful a cold air blast coming directly from the blower. V

One of the objects of'this invention is to preheat the air by utilizing the heat conducted through and radiating from the walls of the melting chamber. The preheatediair mixed with the oil and the ,like

thereby affords a more'thorough mixing of "the fuel and air and a more complete vaporization of the oil. The arrangement also cool.

serves to keep the outer walls of the furnace Another object is to provide a construction which will facilitate the removal of the crucible while hot and containing a charge of molten metal.

Other objects and thecnovel features of the invention will be apparent from the folber.

lowing description taken inconnection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a furnace embodying my improvements, parts being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of thesame taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken along the line 3-3 of of the furnace taken alongthe line ie-4 of handle employed to lift the crucible from its supporting means in the melting cham- Fig. 6 is a plan view of .a modified form of cover for the furnace.

showing the furnace with the cover applied thereto. 2

Referring to the draw ng, A and B designate two horizontally separable sections Fi 7 is a b sectional view along line 7-7 of Fig. 6,

tion A rests when the two are in operative position. The base section B consists of a shell which is cast in one piece and comprises the side wall 10, the bottom 11 and the inwardly extending flange portion 12 with the shell which provides an air cham-' ber'17 at the bottom of the base section B. The said chamber isdivided longitudinally by a partition 18 also cast integrally with the shell or outer wall-of the base section.

The wall 10 is provided with a lining 19- of fire-brick, or other refractory material which lines the bottom 16, walls 10 and 10' and flange 12 and is hollowed out at its center to constitute a combustion chamber 20. Within one end of the. lining there are two vertical passageways 21 and 22, the passageway 21 extending in the entire height of the lining 19. and opening through the bottom 16v into the air chamber ,l7fand through the flange 12 into the lining of the upper section A. The passageway 22 also opens through its upper end into the lining of the section A and at its lower end is flared out as at 22' and opens into two concentrically arranged passageways 23 and 24:, also in the lining.

Upon the cap 15 there is mounted a fuel inlet nozzle 25 which communicates by a pipe P with. a tank T containing oil, gas or other fuel under pressure. The said nozzle 25 is mounted on the cap 15, the latter having a lining 26 which forms a connecting passageway 27 between the passageways 23'and 24:. To admit air and fuel into the combustion chamber 20 an inlet duct 28 is provided which establishes communication between the passageway 27 and the chamber 20. A plate 29 having an opening 30 therein is seated over the inlet to the duct 28 and partially contracts the area of the ,inlet. The inner end of the nozzle .25 extends into the duct 28 through said opening 30 and discharges. fuel into the-same, The duct 28 has one of its walls substantially tangential with, the wall of the chamber 20 and is flaring at its inner end. The duct 28 constitutes an air and fuel mixing chamber and oil, if used as a fuel, is vaporized therel 'i. J

B1 The lower end of said spiral passage,

' chamber.

in and more thoroughly mixed with the air before the same enters the combustion chamber. 7

A support or stool 31 of-refractory material is removably seated in the combustion chamber 20 on the lining covering the bottom 1'6. 32 at its upper end and is of a particular construction to facilitate the removal of the said crucible by means of the. shank or handle shown in- Fig. The; said shank comprises the handle portions 33 and 34 and. the crucible engaging portion 35 intermediate the handle portions. The crucible engaging portion 35 has an opening. 36 at one side thereof. d uced intermediate its ends as at 31' practically at the-middle thereof and asshown' in Fig. 3 the sides arecurved inwardly in longitudinal section. The. reduction of the central portion of the stool is for two purposes; first, to increase the size of the comthe open side 36 ofthe shankshown in F i g'. 5 when the crucible is to be removed. The crucible-32 is prowidedwith aremovabl'e cover 32" and is disposed in the crucible chamber'37' within the movable section: A.

The crucible chamber and. combustionchamber 20 are inaxia lalinement and when the movable section A rests on the base section B the two'sections comprise the melting The inovablei section. A consists of -a shelli38 of sheet or cast metal and has secured: at itsupper end: an annular, inwardly extendingcast ring 39 and at the lower end thereof there is an annular cast ring: 40 having: a downwardly projecting is a spirally arranged air flange 41 at the inner end thereof corresponding with the upwardly extending projection 13 on the member l2. The projections 13 and 14' fit close together and it will be seen that there is thus provided a continuous metal casing-for the body of the furnace; The shell 38 of the-sectionA is provided with a lining 42 of'fire-brick or refractory material and has the central opening therethrough providing the cruciblechamber 37.

.VVitliin the wallsof the lining 42 there heatingpassageway 4'I3which is connected to 'avertical passageway 44: in alinement with the passageway 21 in the base section w'ayfi3 is connected to a vertical passagethe passageway 22' in the base member B. nipples 44 and 45 in alinemen't with the passageways 21 and '22 are screwed into the flange Hand have tapering edges at, their upper endsfto more readilyaline with the passagewaysl l and as when the two sectio'nsA and Bare-brought together.

A blower F is connected by a pipeP to The said stool supports the crucible The said stool 31 is re-.

admit at its upper, end

Short threaded the end wall 10 at 46 and discharges air into the air chamber 17. An upwardly curved -pertien 16 in advance of the opening 4-6 deflects the entering air downwardly into said chamber 17. It will thus be seen that for providing air to the combustion chamber there is a continuous channel through the refractory lining and around the melting chamber opening into the combustion chamber 20. The air passing about the melting chamber is not only heated but also keeps the outer wall of the furnace cool and confines the heat to the inner wall and interior of the furnace.

A cast metal cover C is disposed over the open end of the crucible chamber 37. The said cover C comprises a cup-shaped metal casting. -17 having a centrally arranged opening d8 therein. The casting L7 is also provided at one side with an integral handle l9 and has an integral lug 50 opposite the handle by which it is pivoted to'the top casing member 39 at the pivot 51. The casting 47 rests at its lower edge upon the furnace top 39 and has a lining 52 of refractory material forming a continuation of the chamber 37 and having an opening therein in a linement with the opening 48 for the discharge of incombustible gases and the same may also be employed to introduce material to bemelted into the crucible 32:.

As before stated the top section A is vertically movable and may be moved to such a height that the crucible 32 seated on the support 31 may be withdrawn from between the two sections to pour the charge therefrom. The said section A is provided with plates secured to opposite sides thereof upon which are mounted rollers or triumions 54. There are two rollers 54 at each side, one at the top and one at the bottom and are revolubly connected to the plates 53 by means of pinsed screwed into said plates. Vertical grooved standards 55 are bolted to the plate 12 on the bottom section B and extend for a sufiicie'nt distance above the said section to allow the section A to be raised above the crucible 32. Extending between the standards 55 above the center thereof is a reinforcing'frame 56 which is secured to each of the standards and mounted on said frame 56 is the shaft 57 of a pinion 58 which cooperates with a rack 59 mounted on the rear of the movable top sec tion A. Handles 60 may be provided for operating. the pinion 58 to raise and lower the section A.

- The rollers or t-runnions 54- guide the top section A along the open ended grooves 55 in the guideways 55. The diameter of the rollers 54 is slightly less than the width of the grooves 55'. On account of the fact that the outer unsupported side of the top section A will tend to incline the section slightly out of the vertical there may be A of to prevent its tipping. The crucible enm ses of the movable section replaces excessive sliding friction with rolling friction, greatly improving and simplifying the construction and operation of the furnace.

To hold the movable section A in any desired raised position I have provided counterbalancing means as shown. Cables 61 at opposite sides of the movable section A are secured at one of their ends to ears 62 on said movable section and pass over pulleys 63 and 64: mounted at the upper ends of the guides or tracks 55 and suspended from the outer ends of the cables 61 is a counter weight "W. The pulleys 63 and6i are revolubly mounted in an ear 63 and an arm 61 respectively integral with the guide standards 55 and extending in opposite directions from the upper ends thereof.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device will be apparent. The crucible being in position on its support 31,

as shown in Fig. 3, oil or gas is admitted to the combustion chamber 20 under pressure.

The air delivered to the chamber 1'? will pass through the tines in the lining of the melting chamber and discharge'into the duct 28 where the same will be mixed with the gas or vaporized oil, the mixture discharging into the combustionv chamber 20. The heat of the chamber walls will be conducted to the walls of the fines and the air passing through will be heated, thereby utilizing waste heat and increasing the intensity and effectiveness of the combustion of the fuel in the combustion chamber. 1

The charge in the crucible having been melted the movable section A is raised ver-' tically along the guide standards 55 until the bottom thereof is of a suflicient height to clear the top of the crucible. A shank similar to the one shown in big. 5 is then em ployed to remove the crucible for pouring the charge therefrom. By the use of the improved stool the opening 36 in the. shank is of the least possible amount, avoiding a weakening of the crucible engaging section 35. The reduced portion 31 of'the stool .will readily pass through the cutsaway opening 36,,the handle being held so that the part 35. is inclined and, the ends 35 extended down into the combustion chamber .20, thereby presenting the opening 36 to the narrowest part 31 ofthe stool 31. The enlarged .part 35. is then passed up around the crucible near enough to the center'theregaged within the part 35 is removed, the molten charge combustion chamber 20.

supports the open ended crucible 65 whichpoured therefrom. The crucible is then replaced, and the handle withdrawn, in readiness to repeat the operation. The counterbalance weight willhold the movable section A in any raised position so that the crucible may be removed and replaced with safety.

Figs. 6 and 7 disclose a modification of the cover shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The latter cover is suitable when the crucible itself is covered as shown. The eddy or suction caused by the escape of the burnt gases through the central opening will not affect the charge in the crucible However, it is frequently desirable to omit the crucible cover in metallurgical work and in melting soft metals such as brass, aluminum, etc. With a crucible open at its upper end it is important that the excessive draft or suction in line with the crucible be avoided so that the said suction will not dislodge any fine powder that might be placed upon the.

charge of metal for flux or protection.

To elimlnate the excessive draft in line wlth the center of the crucible, the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is provided.

The furnace consists of the separable sections as in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 having a crucible support or stool 31 in the The said stool 31 extends up into the heating chamber 37, the upper end of saidcrucible being in close proximity to the cover of the chamber 37 so that there will be but little space between the two for the passage of gases. The refractory lining 42 supports an annular plate 66 at its upper end to which the shell 38 is bolted. By means of pin 67 and a lug 68 having a pivot opening therethrough there is pivoted on the annular plate 66, an an nular castingarranged to slide on said plate 66 at its lower edge. The said annular casting comprises a rim section 69, forming a retaining means for lining 70 of refractory material, said lining having the same internal diameter as the melting chamber 27.

lnwardly radially projecting goosenecks ll, of which there are three in the present illustration, are cast integral with said rim section 69 and support an integral ring 72 at their lower free ends, the said ring being disposed parallel with the upper edge of the rim section The projection or lug 68' and a. handle 73 are also cast integral with the rim section, thereby providing a unitary cover structure. The ring 72 is lined by and supports an annular member 74: of refractory material, the member 74:

being held in place byfour, more or less, large headed bolts 78, the threaded ends of which engage in threaded holes in the ring 72. The member 74: maybe formed separately. and when secured in place by the bolts, the countersinks are filled with refractory material. The greatest outer diameter of member 71 is less than the inner 'way a perfect control Y messes diameter of the-linings 37 and 70, thereby proi iding annular passageway 75 of an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the melting chamber 87. The outer edge of the member 7-l is inclineddownwardly and inwardly so that. the passageway 75 flares downwardly. At its center the member 74: has a circular opening 77 therethrough. The 'CODSlllTIChlOH as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 prevents the eddy or suction which occurs under the other cover and allows the burnt gases to rise straight up and escape through the annular passageway 7 5. A slight amount of gas will pass over the top andescape through tie" entral' opening 77 but not" enough to cause an eddy -or suction sulli'cient to dislodge powder in the crucible. By varying the size of the annular passageof the eddy or suction may be effected.

The invent-ion is shown as applied to acr'ucib l'e furnace utilizing oil as a fuel; it isobv-ious, however, that features therein may be applied to refining, reduction or other furnaces. In furances generally it is advantageous to preheat the air introduced into the combustion or melting chamber and to utilize as much as possible of thewaste heat in heating the air. of thefact that many changes may be made in-"the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact details as shown and described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a furnace, in'combination, a melting chamber having a wall of refractory material, a spiral air heating passageway in said wall, an air inlet acent the bottom of the wall opening into the spiral passag way at the top, a fuel inlet duct opening into the melting chamber near the bottom, the air heating passageway discharging into saidchamber through said duct and mixing therein with said fuel passing into said chamber.

2'. In a furnace, the combination of a casing having a wall of refractory material inclosing a melting cl amber, said wall comprising separable parts, said parts of the refractory Wall having air heating passageways therein which extend longitudinally of said chamber, and means including a duct opening" into said chamber for delivering fuel and preheated air to said chamber.

' 3. In-a furnace, in combination, a melting chamber constructed of separable members of refractory material, means for moving one of said members with relation to the other, a continuous air heating passageway extending through 1e members, an air. inlet open-ing into the passageway, said passageway discharging the heated air into the chamber, and means for mixing fuel Therefore, in view with the air as the latter chamber.

In a furnace, in combination two separable sections constituting a melting chamber, passageways disposed about both sections and connected to one another, an air inlet opening into one of said passageways, a duct connecting one of said passageways with the melting chamber, a crucible in the melting chamber, and means for separating the sections to permit the removal of the crucible.

5. In a furnace, in combination, two separable sect-ions comprising a melting chamber, each of said sections having a lining of refractory material, an air passageway in each lining, said passageway and linings being connected together to form a continu ous heating passageway surrounding the melting chamber, in said lining in both sections, said passag ways being connected to one another to form a continuous passageway which doirers into said chamber, an air inlet opening into said continuous passageway, means for delivering fuel to the chamber, and means for separating the sections to permit access to the interior thereof.

6. In a furnace, in combination, two separable sections comprising a melting chamber, one of said sections being stationary and another movable, said sections having connected air heating passageways in the walls thereof, and means on the stationary section cooperating with means 011 the movaele section to separate the sections.

7. In a furnace, in combination, two separable sections constituting a melting chamber, the sections being relatively movable and having connected air heating passageways in the walls thereof, means on one of the sections cooperating with means on the other section to separate the same, and means for supporting one of said sections in a. position out of contact with the other.

8. In a furnace, the combination of two separable sections comprising a stationary member and a movable member, said sections inclosing a melting chamber when assembled, means comprising a rack on the movable section and a gear on the stationary member for raising the movable member, and means for maintaining the movable member in a raised position.

9. In a furnace, the combination of a suitable body provided with communicating combustion and crucible chambers, a rcfractory lining for said body and having an air heating passageway therein, a crucible located in the crucible chamber, means mounted in the combustion chamber for supporting the crucible in the crucible chamber, and a tangential passageway communicating with the air heating passageway and opening into said combustion chamber.

passes into the air heating passageways base section comprising a shell lined with refractory material constituting a combustion chamber, a hydrocarbon burner mounted in said shell, an air heating passageway in said lining,means for admitting air to said shell, an air and fuel mixing chamber in the lining opening into the combustion chamber, said passageway and hydrocar bon burner opening into the mixing chamher and atop section and coversupported on and separable from said base section.

1.1. In a furnace, the combination with a stationarybase section, of a vertical guideway thereon, a vertically movable section, means on the movable section cooperating with the guideway to be guided thereby, and means for raising and lowering the movable section. i

12. In a furnace, the combination with a stationary base section, of vertical guideways on opposlte sides thereof,"a vertlcally movable section, means on the movable secing into the crucible chamber,

tion movable along and cooperating with the guideways to be guided thereby, means for raising and lowering the movable section, and means for maintaining the mov able section in any desired position along the guideways.

13. In a furnace of the class described, the combination of a furnace comprising two separable parts constituting a combustion' chamber and a crucible chamber in axial alinement and having a refractory lining, a crucible located in the crucible chamber, a removable stool mounted in the combustion chamber and adapted to support said crucible in the crucible chamber, and a fuel or gas inlet. opening into the combustion chamber tangentially whereby said fuel or gas moves in a swirl about said stool. I

14. In a crucible furnace, the combination of a crucible, a two-part casing, means for separating said parts, one part inclosing a combustion chamber and another part inclosing the crucible chamber, a crucible support in the combustion chamber and extendsaid support being formed with a contracted section to facilitate the removal of the crucible therefrom when said parts are separated. V

15. In a crucible furnace, the combination of a crucible, a two-part casing transversely separable and including a stationary section inclosing a combustion chamber and a movable section inclosing a crucible chamber, and a crucible support removably mounted in the stationary section and extending into the movable section, said support having a contracted section intermediate its ends to permit the passage of the support between the ends of a forked member for removing the crucible.

16. In a crucible furnace, the combiguideways,

nation with a two-part shell comprising a stationary part inclosing a combustion chamber and having a fuel inlet, of a crucible support in said chamber, the sides of which are curved and form a contracted section to facilitate the removal ofa crucible from said support. 7

17. In a crucible furnace, with a two part shell comprising a stationary part inclosing a combustion chamber and having a fuel inlet and burner, of a removable crucible support therein, the sides of said support being concave and forming a contracted section intermediate the ends thereof, one end extending without said chamber.

18. In a crucible furnace, the combination of a base section, vertical grooved guideways thereon, a movable top section, means thereon engaging in the grooves in the guideways, means mounted on the guideways cooperating with means on the top section to move the latter, a counterbalance weight for maintaining the top section in any desired position, and means for connecting said counterbalance weight to the top section. V

19. In a crucible furnace, the combination with a base section, of vertical grooved guideways thereon, pulleys mounted at the upper ends of said guideways,.a movable top section cooperating with the base section to form a melting chamber, trunnions on the top section engaging in the grooves of the a rack on the top'section, a pinion and operating means therefor on the guideways, said pinion cooperating with the rack to, move the top section vertically, a counterbalance weight for maintaining the top section in any desired position along the guideways, cables having one of their ends connected to the top section and the opposite ends passing over said pulleys and connected to the weight at the ends of the latter.

20. In a crucible furnace, the combinat on with a base section lined with refractory material, of an air heating passageway in the lining, said lined base section constituting a combustion chamber, means for clelivering oil or gas under pressureto said chamber, a top section lined with refractory material, an air heating passageway in the lining thereof, said lined top section constituting a charge containing chamber, said air heating passageways being connected, an air admission inlet for the air heating passageways, said air heating passageway discharging the air flowing therethrough' into the path of said oil or gas to be mixed therewith and delivered to the combustion chamber, and an outlet from the chargecontaining chamber.

21. In a crucible furnace, the combination with a base section lined with refractory material, of an air heating passageway'in the combination limi s i a a chamber, a vertically movable top section lined with refractory material, a spirally arranged lair heatingpassageway in the lining thereof, said lined top section constituting a charge-containingchamber, said air heating passageways being connected, means fordeliyering air under pressure to the air heating passageways, said air heating pas- Sale m-yrs dis har n t a f owing t et hil ugh into the path of said oil or gas to be mixed therewith delivered to the combustion chamber, an outlet from the charge containing chamber, and means for moviesaid t p ec io ert c ly- 22. In"a furnace, the combination of a will o re ractory ma eria confin ng a space constituting a melting chamber, said Wall ay ng a pi al air heating passageway there i nd ex di lon i udi a ly th o said Wall having an air inlet near its bottom opening into said passageway, a fuel inlet duct opening into said melting chamber at the bottom, said passageway opening into the duct and the latter constituting a mixing chamber for the fuel and air.

'23. In a furnace, .a Wall of refractory material divided transversely intermediate its ends to form two separable parts, said parts when assembled inclosing a melting chamher, an air heating passageway in said Wall, the bottom part of said Wall having an air inlet which commim icates with said passageway, and a passageway which connects the air heating passagex vay with the interior of said chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature presence of two Witnesses. FRANKLIN M. ILER.

Witnesses:

VVrLnnm H. SIMS, M R J, A -W Copies of this gatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of I'atents,

' wail ngm 2- c4 

